“Ukraine. The Return of History” - special project of the“1+1” television channel.
Documentary investigation revealing astonishing facts from Ukrainian history.

As a part of our social program, we took on the task of designing an exhibition associated with the project.
The exhibition, dedicated to the Independence Day of Ukraine, included information and valuable historical artifacts boards.

What made this project so important and personal to us is its scale and its high cultural and educational value.

Research

02. Research

The design of information boards was a completely new thing to us. First of all, we conducted our research
inspired by aesthetics of museums and exhibitions boards from all over the world.

We decided to abandon traditional flat panel design and instead to experiment with
asymmetric and folding forms. A4 size paper sheets became our first prototype.

When designing 3D model, we took into consideration user and display stand interaction.

Due to its wave shape, the design made it possible to provide more space for historical
artifacts as well as allowed more visitors to be at the same at one display stand.

As the original information about personalities of this project varies in quality – some
pictures are so blurred that it is even hard to distinguish person’s facial appearance –
we had to find a way to portray them in a single style.

03. Style

The solution was to create portraits by using text blocks.

Such graphic technique emphasizes the informative value of the project while the portraits
create a vague image of a person depicted in broad lines.

Colors

04. Colors

D'orsay blue

Inspired by the wall colors of Parisian museum d’Orsay, we chose to use shades of deep blue color. This color scheme
helps to focus reader’s attention and it blends with the facade of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery.
RAL 5013

White

We used white color to make text more visible and easy to read as it visually refreshes the blue board.
RAL 9010

When designing the mesh for placing the content, we took into account the height of the viewers and the
size of the structure in order to balance aesthetics with convenience.

Idea

This project was quite a challenge for us as it went beyond the web space scope but even so we were guided
by the principles of good UX design and users convenience.

Muhammad Zuhair, CEO ZABSolution

05. Usability

With such a mesh we were able to create more free space and “air” for designing the stands. At the end
it had a positive effect on aesthetics of design and we could place information on the level appropriate
for the readers of different height.

The information was classified and divided into groups, which made the text blocks easily accessible and
eye catching for the by-passers.

06. Details

After choosing the style and the mesh design we portrayed all the personalities in recognizable but same manner.

Details

Yaroslav the Wise

Ingigerda

Ivan Mazepa

Anna Yaroslavna

Ilya Muromets

07. Fonts

PT Serif – an antiqua distinguished by modest stroke contrast and robust wedge-like serifs. This typeface
is legible and matches to modern design. We used it for headlines.

Futura – a grotesque style typeface based on geometric shapes. It makes a strong contrast with the font used in headlines.

08. Final

The boards were installed at St. Michael’s Square in Kyiv for the Independence Day of Ukraine.

Final

Akim Galimov, author of the project “Ukraine. Return of its history”

Despite of bad weather and scorching sun, the whole structure proved its design integrity.
Thousands of people could see the exhibition from 22 till 29 of August.